Business

John C. Maxwell; Utilize the strengths of a great team and you’ll achieve more than you ever imagined possible.

The Book of Lists ranks the fear of public speaking before the fear of death. For many

George Eastman 1854-1932 George Eastman made photography an amateur sport. When competition in the camera industry heated up, he shifted his attention and created the film roll, which replaced cumbersome glass plates that required more complicated processing. The innovation also became the basis for motion picture film. Eastman obtained a patent for a camera to…

Herb Kelleher b. 1931 What started as a regional carrier serving Dallas, Houston and San Antonio became one of the industry’s pioneering low-cost, no-frills airlines. Founded by Herb Kelleher and partner Rollin King in 1967, Southwest Airlines posted its 35th consecutive year of profitability in 2007. The airline has been known for campy antics—flight attendants singing…

Estée Lauder 1908-2004 It’s not that the queen of cosmetics, Estée Lauder, didn’t trust others to do the dirty work; she just loved her company so much she insisted on getting her hands dirty with every little detail. Starting with skin creams concocted by her chemist uncle, she sold the products at beauty shops and…

P.T. Barnum 1810-1891 A master showman and eccentric entertainer, P.T. Barnum produced "The Greatest Show on Earth". Famous for his self-promotion, his entrepreneurial talent was in attracting publicity with handbills and billboards. Above all else, he was a businessman who understood his times and knew how to profit from them. With few diversions available for…

Ralph Lauren b. 1939 The name Ralph Lauren conjures images of classic Americana ensconced in high-end luxury, and that’s exactly how the New York-born fashion designer intended it. Instead of selling just clothes, he sold a lifestyle that he portrayed with his distinctive advertisements of fair-haired boys in khaki chinos, elegant brunettes in sharp, white,…

Charles Schwab b. 1937 Charles Schwab made investing even more accessible as a pioneer in the discount brokerage business. His company reduced trade commissions and gave more power to consumers to pick and choose their investments. Schwab also introduced e-commerce investing, allowing clients to execute, buy and sell orders online. Quote: "A man can succeed…

Ray Kroc 1902-1984 Ray Kroc died in 1984, just a few short months before McDonald’s sold its 50 billionth hamburger. One of the most well known success stories in American business history, Kroc developed a sophisticated operating system that essentially put hamburgers on an assembly line. He perfected processes and imposed such discipline on the…

William Becker 1921-2007 Paul Greene 1914-1994 They weren't the first to create no-frills lodging, but William Becker and Paul Greene reinvented the budget hotel in 1962 when they opened their first Motel 6 in Santa Barbara, Calif. Their predecessors, Best Western and Holiday Inn, wanted to sidestep the proletarian image of "motor" or "highway hotels"…